Summary

• Fans of Skybound's reimagining of the Transformers, as part of their Energon Universe continuity, should get ready for a game-changing reveal in Transformers #8, as it appears the character of Elita One will be introduced.
• Skybound promises big things for the Energon Universe in the coming year, with many potential surprises in store for the Transformers and the continuity's other iconic franchises.
• The classic Autobot leader Elita One's return sets the stage for an exploration of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict on their homeworld, as Skybound teases that it will "change the war on Cybertron" forever.

WARNING! Potential spoilers ahead for Transformers #8Skybound’s Transformers series has been a hit commercially and critically, and the publisher looks to keep the franchise going by introducing a classic character that could “change the war on Cybertron forever.” While the series has exclusively taken place on Earth so far, it appears as though the Transfomers #8 will be taking the action back to the Transformers’ homeworld…

Set to be released this May, Transformers #8 continues the story of the stranded Autobots and Decepticons on Earth, as the two factions continue their search for Energon, after fleeing Cybertron when the power source became scarce.

While the character is not named in the solicitation, the Transformer appearing on Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer’s cover is Elita One. Given this prominent placement, it’s easy to assume this is the “spoiler” character mentioned in the solicitation. It also promises a change of scenery, as the action shifts to Cybertron to see what’s been going on in the Transformers’ homeworld.

Autobot Resistance Leader Elita One Makes Her Skybound Debut

This brief glimpse is all Skybound has given readers of Cybertron up to this point, so it will be very exciting to see the creative team travel to the Transformers’ homeworld and explore the current state of affairs.

Traditionally, Elita One has been portrayed as the female equivalent to Optimus Prime, an Autobot resistance leader who stayed behind on Cybertron to fight against the Decepticons’ rule. Elita One was once Ariel, a dockworker living an ordinary existence with her boyfriend Orion Pax, during Cybertron’s period of peace and harmony. This was disrupted when Megatron took control, as the Decepticons came to power. Orion Pax eventually became Optimus Prime, and left Cybertron in the hopes of finding more Energon. Ariel then adopted the name of Elita One, choosing to stay behind and fight the Decepticons on their home turf.

How much of this is retained in the new Transformers continuity remains to be seen, but so far, the Energon Universe has hewed closely to the classic G1 era of the franchise. Cybertron has already been introduced in the pages of Energon Universe original title Void Rivals, where it was revealed that the Transformers' homeworld is currently ruled by the Decepticon Shockwave. This brief glimpse is all Skybound has given readers of Cybertron up to this point, so it will be very exciting to see the creative team travel to the Transformers’ homeworld and explore the current state of affairs.

Elita One Is A Vital Expansion Of The Energon Universe

While it certainly appears the unnamed character who will “change the war on Cybertron forever” will be Elita One, it’s also entirely possible that Skybound has more than one surprise in store for fans. Each Energon Universe title has Free Comic Book Day special issue due to be released in May alongside Transformers #8. Whichever iconic Transformers chaeacter shows up in the Energon Universe next, fans won’t want to miss a single issue to find out what happens.

Transformers #8 will be on sale May 8, 2024 from Skybound Entertainment.